Expandable Capacity Pocket Device
A pocket device including a major panel and a pocket panel coupled to the major panel and defining a pocket with the major panel. The pocket panel has a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of the major panel at at least one position to thereby define a laterally-extending gap therebetween, which enables expansion of the pocket.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/750,563 entitled EXPANDABLE CAPACITY POCKET DEVICE filed on Jan. 9, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention is directed to a pocket device, and more particularly, to a pocket device having an expandable capacity.
BACKGROUNDPocket dividers or folders may be used to store various items such as loose papers, writing utensils, or the like. In many cases, the shape and configuration of the pocket divider may limit its storage capacity. The storage capacity can be particularly limited when the pocket of the pocket divider is bound on various sides, or is bound into a component such as a notebook.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment, the invention is a pocket device including a major panel and a pocket panel coupled to the major panel and defining a pocket with the major panel. The pocket panel has a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of the major panel at at least one position to thereby define a laterally-extending gap therebetween, which enables expansion of the pocket.
As shown in
Each pocket divider 10 can operate as a divider to segregate various portions of the notebook 2/papers 4 for ease of access and use. Each pocket divider 10 may have the same footprint/outer dimensions as other bound contents, such as the papers 4 and/or covers 8, 9. Alternately, the pocket divider 10 may protrude in any direction in the plane of the pocket divider 10, and/or be recessed in any direction in the plane, to provide a tactile separator function to the user. Each pocket divider 10 can include one or more pockets 11 to store loose items therein.
Each pocket divider 10 can be made from a blank such as the blank 1 shown in
The blank 1 includes a horizontally extending front pocket fold line 15 that separates the front major panel 12 and the front pocket panel 14. Blank 1 also includes a horizontally extending back pocket fold line 25 that separates the back major panel 22 and the back pocket panel 24. The blank 1 further includes a first or major vertical fold line 32 extending between and separating the front major panel 12 and back major panel 22. Finally, blank 1 includes a second or minor or pocket vertical fold line 34 extending between and separating the front pocket panel 14 and back pocket panel 24.
In the blank 1 the horizontal fold lines 15, 25 are collinear and may be considered a single fold line; however once the pocket divider 10 is formed the fold lines 15, 25 may appear more distinct. Similarly the vertical fold lines 32, 34 in blank 1 are collinear and may be considered a single fold line but may become more distinct when the pocket divider 10 is formed.
The blank 1/pocket divider 10 (i.e. including major panels 12, 22 and pocket panels 14, 24) can be made of any of a wide variety of materials, including but not limited to plastic or polymers (such as polypropylene or vinyl), cardboard, paperboard, plastic encased cardboard, etc. It should be noted that the fold lines 15, 25, 32, 34 can be formed as creases or areas of weakness in the blank 1. However, the fold lines 15, 25, 32, 34 need not necessarily be physically present in the blank 1, and can merely be imaginary lines about which the blank 1 is later folded.
The blank 1 may include a cutout or relief cutout 40 positioned along, and removing a part of, a lower portion of the major vertical fold line 32 (also removing part of the major panel 12 and/or 22). In the illustrated embodiment the cutout 40 includes an upper portion 42 positioned above the horizontal/pocket fold lines 15, 25, and also includes a lower portion 44 positioned below the horizontal pocket/fold lines 15, 25 such that lower portion 44 of the cutout 40 is positioned along, and removes a part of, an upper portion of the minor vertical fold line 34 (and also portions of the horizontal fold lines 15, 25). For reasons which will later become apparent, the cutout 40 may in some cases have a length 1 equal to or greater than the height h of pocket panels 14, 24.
As shown in
As shown in
The coil binding holes 16 and ring binding holes 18 may be made at any stage in the forming/manufacturing process, including in the blank 1 before folding, or after making either of the folds along the fold lines 15/25 or 32/34, or even after assembling the pocket divider 10 into the binding mechanism 6 or other component. When the pocket divider 10 is assembled manually, it may not matter when the holes 16, 18 are formed. In contrast, when the pocket divider 10 is assembled by machine or automatically, it may be advantageous to create holes 16, 18 after pocket divider 10 has been folded into its position as shown in
The cutout 40 can be formed in a variety of manners. In one embodiment, the entire cutout 40, including its upper 42 and lower 44 portions, are simultaneously formed in the unfolded blank 1 as shown in
After the pocket divider 1 is assembled, the fold line 34 is aligned with and positioned adjacent to the cutout 40. In particular, when the pocket divider 10 is not full, the cutout 40 defines a laterally extending gap 41 between the outer edges of the major panels 12/22 and fold line 34/outer edges of the pocket panels 14/24, as shown in
This configuration, and in particular the presence and positioning of the gap 41, provides increased expansion capability to the pockets 11. In particular,
At position 64, located along or adjacent to the upper outer edge of the pocket 11 adjacent to the vertical fold 34, upon expansion of the pocket 11, the panel 14 may move outwardly/forwardly in the z direction to provide increased capacity. To accommodate such movement in the z direction, the pocket panel 14 may move laterally inwardly/leftwardly in the -x direction at position 64. As noted above, such movement in the x direction is permitted by the cutout 40 and limited by the size of the gap 41.
At position 66, located along or adjacent to the upper inner edge 19 of the pocket 11, during expansion the panel 14 may move outwardly/forwardly in the z direction and also move laterally/rightward in the x direction. Such lateral movement may be limited by engagement of a binding hole 16 with the binding mechanism 6 (such as a wire coil passing through holes 16). However, the binding holes 16 are typically larger than the wire received thereon, so that some lateral movement is permitted although binding holes 16, 18 in the pocket panel 14 may move out of precise alignment with binding holes 16 in the major panel 12, as shown in
The cutout 40 can have various sizes, shapes and dimensions when formed in the blank 1 of
The lower portion 44 of the cutout 40 may be enlarged (i.e. have a lateral width greater than the majority of the cutout 40 or the body of the cutout 40) as shown for example in cutouts 40C, 40D, 40E and 40F of
A conventional pocket may hold about 25 sheets of material (depending on the size and thickness of the sheets), the dimensions of the pocket, etc. However, by providing the cutout 40, the outer edge of pocket 11 may move as outlined above to provide increased expansion of pocket 11. Therefore more contents may be added to pocket 11, for example about 45 sheets of materials (again, depending on the size and thickness of the sheets and the dimensions of the pocket), a capacity increase of about 80%. If the pockets 11 are equally loaded, such a cutout 40 may permit each pocket 11 to easily hold stack of contents 50 about 3/16″ thick (e.g., half the width of the cutout 40 when the cutout 50 is ⅜″ wide).
As outlined above, the pocket divider 10 may be bound into a binding mechanism 6 using coil binding holes 16 or into a ring binder using ring binder holes 18. Although the pocket divider 10 shown in
The pocket divider 10 may also or instead be used as a standalone device, not bound to any other component. In this case the inner edges 19 can be free/uncoupled. Alternately one or both pocket panels 14, 24 are secured to their associated major panel 12, 22 along the inner edges 19, and/or the major panels 12, 22 are secured together along their inner edges 19 or their inner faces, or all the panels 12, 14, 22, 24 are secured together along their inner edges 19. The panels 12, 14, 22, 24 (and other securing or coupling operations disclosed herein) can be adhered together along their inner edges by a variety of methods, such as heat welding, sonic welding, stitching, adhesives, staples, heat sealing, staples, rivets or other mechanical fasteners, etc. The divider pocket 10 may include only a single major panel if desired, and/or may have one a single pocket panel defining a single pocket 11, or utilize two pocket panels to define to pockets 11.
Instead of making the pocket divider from a single-piece blank as shown in
The embodiments of
The front pocket panel 14 and back pocket panel 24 may be joined together along their lower edge along a single securing line 15w which may also secure or join together front major panel 12 and back major panel 22. However, if the bottom of the major panel or panels 12, 22 stops short of the bottom of the pocket panels 14, 24, it may be possible to have securing line 15w join only the pocket panels 14, 24 and not the major panel or panels 22, 22. As another alternative securing line 15w may join the lower edges of front pocket panel 14 and front major panel 12, while securing line 25w may join the lower edges of back pocket panel 24 and back major panel 22.
If two major panels 12, 22 are used, their top edges may be joined along securing line 36w, and/or their left or inner edges 19 may be joined together along an upper portion by securing line 37w and/or along a lower portion by securing line 38w. Securing line 38w may join any of the panels 12, 14, 22, 24 along their lower inner or left edge. However in some cases it may be desired not to join pocket panel(s) 14, 24 by securing line 38w, in which case the inner or left edge of the pocket panels 14, 24 may stop short of that edge, and instead follow a path as shown as line 17B instead of following to the inner or left edge as with line 17A. This alternate configuration prevents the pocket panels 12, 14 from being joined along securing line 38w.
Many of the previous embodiments illustrate a pocket divider in which that right, or outer, edge of the pocket divider includes the cutout 40/gap 41. However, a cutout 40/gap 41, which provides the expansion features, can be positioned on either the right/outer 32/34 and/or left/inner 19 edges. For example,
The cutout 40′ can be formed at nearly any stage during formation of the pocket divider 52, including when the associated blank is unfolded, partially folded, or fully folded. In the embodiment of
As shown in
After the blank 70 is folded about the fold lines 32a, 32b, 32c, 34a, 34b, 34c, the pocket panels 14, 24 are then folded about fold lines 15, 25, until the pocket panels 14, 24 are facing the associated major panel 12, 22, as shown in
Once the blank 70 is formed into the configuration as shown in
Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the various embodiments, it should be understood that modifications and variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the claims of the present application.
Claims
1. A pocket device comprising:
- a major panel; and
- a pocket panel coupled to said major panel and defining a pocket with said major panel, wherein said pocket panel has a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of said major panel at at least one position to thereby define a laterally-extending gap therebetween, which enables expansion of said pocket.
2. The pocket device of claim 1 wherein said pocket panel is oriented generally parallel with and facing said major panel to define said pocket, said pocket having a mouth, and wherein said gap extends in said a lateral direction generally parallel to said mouth.
3. The pocket device of claim 1 wherein said major panel and said pocket panel are coupled together along a binding edge, and wherein said gap is positioned on an opposite side of said pocket device relative to said binding edge.
4. The pocket device of claim 1 wherein said major panel and said pocket panel are coupled together along a binding edge, and wherein said gap is positioned on a side of said pocket device at or adjacent to said binding edge.
5. The pocket device of claim 1 wherein said laterally-extending gap extends along an entire height of said pocket panel, said height being generally perpendicular to said lateral dimension.
6. The pocket device of claim 1 wherein said pocket device is configured such that a volume of said pocket increases as a lateral dimension of said gap decreases due to movement of said pocket panel.
7. The pocket device of claim 1 wherein pocket panel has a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of said major panel due to a cutout in said major panel.
8. The pocket device of claim 1 wherein pocket panel has a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of said major panel due to portion of said major panel being folded over or under a main portion of said major panel.
9. The pocket device of claim 1 wherein said major panel and said pocket panel are formed of a single unitary piece of material and are coupled along a pocket fold line positioned along a bottom of said pocket.
10. The pocket device of claim 1 wherein said pocket is at least partially defined by a folding panel positioned adjacent to said gap, said folding panel being configured to be generally parallel with said pocket panel when said pocket is in a compact state, said folding panel being configured to be oriented generally perpendicular to said pocket panel when said pocket is filled with contents and in an expanded state.
11. The pocket device of claim 1 further comprising a supplemental pocket panel directly or indirectly coupled to said major panel and defining a supplemental pocket, said supplemental pocket panel being positioned on an opposite side of said major panel relative to said pocket panel, wherein said supplemental pocket panel has a lateral dimension greater than said lateral dimension of said major panel at at least one position, which enables expansion of said supplemental pocket.
12. The pocket device of claim 1 further comprising a supplemental major panel coupled to said major panel along a major fold line or area and a supplemental pocket panel coupled to said supplemental major panel along a supplemental pocket fold line or area and defining a supplemental pocket with said supplemental major panel, wherein said supplemental pocket panel has a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of said supplemental major panel at at least one position, which enables expansion of said supplemental pocket.
13. The pocket device of claim 12 wherein said pocket panel and said supplemental pocket panel are coupled together along a minor fold line or area, and wherein said gap is positioned between said minor fold line or area and adjacent edges of said major panel and said supplemental major panel.
14. The pocket device of claim 12 wherein said gap is positioned adjacent to and generally aligned with said major fold line or area.
15. The pocket device of claim 12 wherein said gap extends along generally an entire height of said pocket and said supplemental pocket.
16. The pocket device of claim 12 wherein said major panel and said supplemental major panel are coupled together by a pair of folding panels, and wherein said folding panels are positioned between said major panel and said supplemental major panel in a thickness direction thereof to reduce a lateral dimension of said major panel and said supplemental major panel.
17. The pocket device of claim 12 wherein the pocket panel and said supplemental pocket panel are coupled together by a pair of folding panels, each folding panel being movable between a compact position in which each folding panel is generally parallel with the associated pocket panel, and an expanded position in which each folding panel is generally perpendicular to the associated pocket panel.
18. The pocket device of claim 12 wherein said major panel and said pocket panel are coupled along a pocket fold line that is generally parallel with said supplemental pocket fold line or area, and wherein said major fold line or area is generally perpendicular to said pocket fold lines.
19. A pocket device comprising:
- a first major panel and a second major panel coupled together along a fold line;
- a first pocket panel coupled to said first major panel and defining a first pocket with said first major panel; and
- a second pocket panel coupled to said second major panel defining a second pocket with said second major panel, wherein each pocket panel has a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of the associated major panel at at least one position to thereby define a lateral gap therebetween, enabling expansion of said first and second pockets.
20. A pocket device comprising:
- a major panel; and
- a pocket panel coupled to said major panel and defining a pocket with said major panel, wherein said pocket panel has an extension portion extending laterally beyond a lateral edge of said major panel to thereby enable expansion of said pocket.
21. A blank for forming a pocket device comprising:
- a generally rectangular piece of sheet-like material having a major fold line extending generally entirely thereacross and a pocket fold line extending generally entirely thereacross, the major fold and a pocket fold line intersecting each other; and
- a cut-out generally aligned with said major fold line and extending therealong, such cut-out being entirely internally positioned in said blank.
22. A method for forming a pocket device comprising:
- accessing a blank including a generally rectangular piece of sheet-like material having a cut-out entirely internally positioned within the blank;
- folding the blank about a minor fold line that intersects the cut-out to define a pair of pockets; and
- folding the blank about a major fold line that intersects, and is generally aligned with, the cut-out.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 9, 2014
Publication Date: Jul 10, 2014
Patent Grant number: 9457611
Applicant: ACCO Brands Corporation (Lake Zurich, IL)
Inventor: Edward P. Busam (Mason, OH)
Application Number: 14/150,969
International Classification: B42F 7/02 (20060101); B31B 1/26 (20060101);